Mineral-separator.



CHARLES U. SII'EPARD, OF SUMMERVILLE, SGUTII CAROLINA.

MINERAL-SEPTRi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

.Application filed August 22, 1908. Serial lioK 331,555.

To ff/Z whorm t Huey concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES U. Sunni-ino, a citizen of the United States, and a ,resident of Summerville, South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in tilii'ieral-Separators, of which the following is a full, clear, and cmnplete disclosure.

My invention relates to those classes of separators which are adapted to remove from minerals, such as phosphatic rock, articles of sand and other valueiess materials, so that the phosphate in the phosphatic rock may he segregated and rendered useful for various commercial purposes. f

My invention particularly relates to the separation oi sand from particles of phosphate or plrosphatic rock such as are found in the waste or tailings from the sri-called sand-screen separators now' employed in the art. These sand-screen separators coinprise a revolving cage or cylinder of sheet metal having tine stamped openings therein. They are sometimes made of Wire cloth of the requisite mesh `in the form of a cylinder. These cylindrical separators se arate the main body of the phosphatio roc from the Waste material. This Waste material, however, has always included more or less phosphatic rock which is still oi considerable value, provided the same can he cheaply and e'lliciently separated from the sand and other valueless materiail i As above stated, my invention applies particularly to recovering the valuable phosphatic material found in the tailings from the cylindricai sand-screen separators. I wish it to he understood, however, that I do not consider my improved apparatus as limited to this particular use, as many other materials may be eiii ciently treated by employing such apparatus.

Briefiy, my invention comprises tivo zigzag series of screens composed of wire netting or stamped sheet metal, the said screens hef ing arranged in such a manner that the water which carries the material in suspension, l

to be treated, may be active successively upon all of the screens, and so that the separation will take place over the complete series of screens.

For a full and exact description of one embodinient of my invention, reference may he had to the following specification and to the accom anying drawings forming a part thereo of which Figure 1 is a central vertical-sectional view of my improved apparatus and Fig. 2 is Yan end elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a sui table chute or hopper, through which the Water containing the materials to be vtreated is fed to the apparatus. The numeral 2. indicates a pair of vertical standards or sides, between which exten d tivo series of screens arranged parallel to each other, but in the forni of steps or zigzag lines, the sections of which are substantially at right anglee to each other. These screens are alternately of fine and coarse mosh, the screens 3 being of coarse mesh and the screens 4 of fine mesh. I have successfully employed in one form ol apparatus coarse and line screens having, respectively, meshes of 1-24 and 1-50 of an inch.

Attached to the sides, 2, are splash boards, and 6, which confine the water which fails downward, Within the casing, und prevents the Water from splashing out or escaping laterally. Below the series of screens, Iprovide a hopper as indicated at 7', so that the valuable material which is separated by the screens will fall into a suitable receptacle or car, as indicated at 8,

In operation, `the Water containing or mixed with the material to be treated falls through the chute, 1, and is discharged onto the iirst coarse screen, 3. This screen retains and separates a large proportion ol the valuable phosphatic particles from the sand and other valueless materiais, since the sand is of such a size as to pass throu h a screen of L24 inch mesh. The water wich passes through this first coarse screen, 3, then falls onto the first fine screen, 4. This screen licing of Yfine mesh, or about 1-5@ of an inch, aiiofvs the Water to pass therethrough, but does not allow the sand to pass therethrough. This sand then asses from the first iine screen, 4, and falls outside of the apparatus between the Spiess hoard, 6. The Water Which has passed through the first fine screen, 4, then falls upon the second coarse screen, 3. The valuable material which has been retained hy the first coarse screen, 3, obviously is discharged from its lower edge upon the second coarse screen, 3, and as the Water is also passing through this screen such material Will be submitted to a second separating or sorting action, any further particles of sand which are here separated from the valuable niateriai passing between the splash board, 5, and outside of the apparatus. This IGC 'process is repeated surcessively, until the material which is retained by the coarse screen is sueeessively treated by each ol said screens, and is linally discharged at the bottom of the apparatus through the hopper, 7, into thel car, H, or other receptacle.

It should be noted that by the use of the above features of construction. the water is used successively over and over again, and thereby a large amount ol separation is obtained, as well as a very complete separation, and at the same time a comparatively small amount of water is required. The screens themselves are preferably made in the form of rectangular frames, 9, which may be removably secured in position by any suitable means, such as cleats, ll), held in place by screws or similar means. Details of construction. will be obvious to one skilled` in desiggniner such apparatus, and further description of the same is not deemed necessary. It is obvious that I may use screens of any meshes which are best suited to the material being treated by my improved separator, and I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to other details of construction shown and described herein, for obvious variations which. may be embodied in my apparatus will occur to persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I laving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a separator for graiiular material,

means lor supplying granular material to be treated, two series of sereens located parallel to each. other and forming between said series a zigzag path from the upper end to the lower end of the sei'iarator, the screens ol' each series being alternately olI coarse and line mesh, and a coarse screen olA one series being located beneath a line screen ol' the other series, so that the larger partir-.les oll the material are retained between the series of screens and the Vliner material is discharged l`rom the line screens.

2. In a separator for granular material, means f or supplying a current ol a mixture of liquid and said granular material, two series of screens located parallel to eael'l other and forming between the same a zig-zag space from the top to the bottom of the separator, said screens being alternately of coarse and fine mesh and a screen of coarse mesh of one series being located immediately below a screen of ine mesh of tne other series, so that the larger materials are confined to the space between the screens, while the Vliner material is discharged from the 'line sereens and so that liquid may pass successively through all of the screens.

In witness whereof, I have signed this speel'- lieation, in. the presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of August, 1906.

CHARL *JS U. SIIEIARD.

INitnesses Hanauer T. JAMES, .loswELL D. TRIMBLE. 

